Laundering bag

ABSTRACT

An improved mesh fabric laundering bag having an articleretaining element within the bag for retaining an article substantially in a predetermined position during laundering. The element may consist of an elastic cord having its opposite ends attached to adjacent corners within the bag.

United States Patent Qontreras Nov. 6, 1973 LAUNDERING BAG [76]Inventor: Alberta L. Contreras, 216 E. 10th, Emmmerwltlham 1 McMinm/me,0mg 97128 Attorney-1ohn W. Stuart [22] Filed: June 21, 1972 [21] Appl.No.: 264,744 [57] ABSTRACT U S Cl 68/213 68/235 R An improved meshfabric laundering bag having an ar- [511 7/00 3 35/00 ticle-retainingelement within the bag for retaining an [58] Field 68/212 235 R articlesubstantially in a predetermined position during 68/235 laundering. Theelement may consist of an elastic cord having its opposite ends attachedto adjacent corners [56] References Cited wlthm the UNITED STATESPATENTS Voss 68/235 R X 9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures LAUNDERING BAGBACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to alaundering bag of the type used to contain articles of clothing during acleaning process. More specifically, the invention relates to animproved. laundering bag which holds an article contained in the bagsubstantially in apredetermined position during the cleaning process, sothat the article may be washed, dried, and stored without removing itfrom the bag.

Laundering bags of the general type contemplated by the invention arewidely used in both commercial and home machine laundering. Generallyconstructed of an open-mesh fabric and having a closure on one end oralong one side, these bags are used in commercial laundries to segregatean individual customers clothing during bulk washing and dryingoperations. In the home, the bags are normally used to hold articles,such as nylon stockings or undergarments, which are fragile and requireprotection, or to hold garments which the user wants to segregate forsome other reason, e.g. to prevent lint pickup.

In use, a number of like articles are placed loosely into a bag, whichis then washed and dried with the regular laundry. It is common,however, for the garments to become intertwined during the process, sothat they must be removed from the bag, untangled, and in the case ofstockings and socks, matched before being put away. Also, some garments,if dried while tangled in such a bag, will retain wrinkles which aredifficult to remove. Although placing a single article in a bag willprevent tangling to some degree, it will not be eliminated if thearticle is free to move within the bag.

There is a need, therefore, for such a bag which would hold an articlein position while being washed and dried, preventing it from becomingentangled and wrinkled.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved laundering bagwhich will retain an article placed therein for laundering in asubstantially unchanged position during the cleaning process, allowingit to be washed, dried, and stored without removal from the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This and other objects of the novellaundering bag of the invention will become more apparent as thedescription which follows is read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view, partially cut away, of the proposedlaundering bag showing it in a partially opened condition with anarticle held therein;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, thelaundering bag of the invention, designated generally by the referencecharacter 10, comprises a generally flat enclosure portion 12 formed ofan open-mesh fabric 14 which allows a cleaning fluid to pass throughreadily and clean an article 15 contained in the bag. The open characterof the fabric also allows fluid vapors to escape easily during drying.Article 15 is shown in the drawings having a non-specific generalizedshape. It will be understood that the article thus depicted representsany article which a user may desire to clean, such as a sock, sweater,necktie, or undergarment, and represents multiple items, such as a pairof stockings, as well.

Also, references to cleaning", laundering" and washing as used hereinare intended to include drycleaning processes, wherein an organicsolvent is used, as well as water-based laundering procedures.

As shown in FIG. 1, enclosure portion 12 is formed by folding anelongated sheet of mesh fabric generally along its longitudinal midlineto form adjacentopposing walls 16 and 18, which are sewn together alongtheir adjacent marginal portions to form ends 20 and 22. Upper edgeportions 2d and 26 of walls 16 and 18, respectively, define an opening27' into enclosure 12. A zipper 28 is joined to edge portions 22 and 24by sewing to provide a releasable closure for the opening. A Velcrofastener strip may be used as a closure in place of the zipper shown inthe drawings, but the latter is preferred because of the more secureclosure thereby obtained.

A length of elastic cord 30 is positioned inside closure 12 adjacent andgenerally parallel to end 20, and attached at its opposite ends 32 and34 to corners 36 and 38, respectively, of the enclosure. In FIG. I, cord30 is attached by sewing it to the: fabric of the enclosure.

To use the laundering bag, zipper 28 is opened and an article 15 isdraped around cord 30 and arranged in a desired position within theenclosure, as shown generally in FIG. 1. After the article is inposition, the zipper is closed and the article, now securely positionedin the laundering bag, is washed, dried, and if desired, stored withoutremoving it from the bag. Elastic cord 30 serves to hold the article ina desired predetermined position during the cleaning process.

Thus, an item can be conveniently draped over cord 30 and arranged in awrinkle-free position within enclosure 12, and after washing and dryingthe item will be in substantially the same position, ready for storage.

Although the dimensions of the laundering bag are not critical, theypreferably are chosen with regard to the size of the article to becleaned, so that the article will be confined within a limited space inthe bag. With such the case, the walls of the enclosure will aid inretaining the article in position during cleaning. For example, a bagsuitable for cleaning a pair of men's socks may have a width of aboutfour inches and a length of about twelve inches.

The materials used in the construction of the bag are likewise notcritical, it being recognized, however, that they should be chosen towithstand the soaps, detergents, and solvents employed in conventionalcleaning I processes, as well as the elevated temperatures used duringthe drying process.

There is thus provided a laundering bag which permits an article to beplaced therein in a predetermined position, and to be subsequentlywashed, dried, and stored without removing it from the bag.

Although a preferred embodiment has been described herein, it isunderstood that variations and modifications are possible withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. For example, a launderingbag could be provided with multiple article-holding cords. Othermodifications will occur to the skilled worker and are deemed to beincluded within the scope of the invention.

It is claimed and desired to secure by letters patent:

l. A laundering bag comprising a mesh fabric enclosure having an openingtherein,

closure means joined to said enclosure for releasably closing saidopening, and

retaining means fastened within said enclosure for retaining an articlesubstantially in a predetermined position in said enclosure duringlaundering.

2. The bag of claim 1, wherein said retaining means comprises anelongated element having its opposite closing said opening, and

retaining means fastened within said enclosure comprising an elongatedelement lying generally along an inner edge thereof, and having itsopposite ends joined to said enclosure at spaced-apart points.

6. The bag of claim 5, wherein said elongated element is elastic.

7. In a laundering bag, the improvement comprising:

means for retaining an article substantially in a predetermined positionin said bag during laundering comprising an elongated element withinsaid bag having its opposite ends joined to the bag at spaced-apartpoints.

8. The improvement of claim 7, wherein said bag comprises an elongated,generally flat enclosure, and said element lies generally along an inneredge thereof.

9. The improvement of claim 7, wherein said elongated element iselastic.

1. A laundering bag comprising a mesh fabric enclosure having an openingtherein, closure means joined to said enclosure for releasably closingsaid opening, and retaining means fastened within said enclosure forretaining an article substantially in a predetermined position in saidenclosure during laundering.
 2. The bag of claim 1, wherein saidretaining means comprises an elongated element having its opposite endsjoined to said enclosure at spaced-apart points.
 3. The bag of claim 2,wherein said enclosure is elongated, and said element is positionedadjacent an end thereof.
 4. The bag of claim 2, wherein said element iselastic.
 5. A laundering bag comprising a mesh fabric sheet folded andjoined adjacent marginal portions thereof to form a geneRally flatenclosure having an opening along an edge thereof, closure means joinedto said enclosure for releasably closing said opening, and retainingmeans fastened within said enclosure comprising an elongated elementlying generally along an inner edge thereof, and having its oppositeends joined to said enclosure at spaced-apart points.
 6. The bag ofclaim 5, wherein said elongated element is elastic.
 7. In a launderingbag, the improvement comprising: means for retaining an articlesubstantially in a predetermined position in said bag during launderingcomprising an elongated element within said bag having its opposite endsjoined to the bag at spaced-apart points.
 8. The improvement of claim 7,wherein said bag comprises an elongated, generally flat enclosure, andsaid element lies generally along an inner edge thereof.
 9. Theimprovement of claim 7, wherein said elongated element is elastic.